Addressing the media, Congress general secretary Sunil Kawathankar said the manner in which the government has renewed mining leases is another goof up that could lead to the closure of the mining industry.
“There is lot of manipulation and fabrication done by the Mines Department while renewing mining leases in Goa of which the department is aware and they are denying information under RTI,” Kawathankar said.
He said that the office of the secretary mines is not accepting RTI applications and that former secretary Pawan Sen has not conducted a proper inquiry into the irregularities in mining cases. “We will not allow haphazard and illegal mining in Goa. We will approach the Supreme Court if needed,” Kawathankar said.
It was the responsibility of the State government and the Mines department to take care while renewing leases so that there is sustainable mining, he said adding that the manner in which lease renewals have been done the time will come when the mining industry will come to a halt.
Kawathankar also questioned the recovery of Rs 35, 000 crore loot which BJP had claimed before the 2012 elections. “We never denied the loot, even we had admitted it, but why has this same party which is now ruling not recovered a single paisa?” Kawathankar asked.
